Department of Hospital Epidemiology and Hygiene

The Department of Hospital Epidemiology and Hygiene was founded on the 1st of December 1977 at the National Institute of Public Health, the predecessor of the National Center for Epidemiology.

The Department is responsible for further development and operation of EFRIR National Nosocomial Surveillance System (EFRIR NNSR). It is a nationwide database of frequent and preventable nosocomial infections based on standard incidence data collection, using surveillance methodology and definitions of CDC. The NNSR consists of compulsory reports (outbreaks, nosocomial infections caused by multi-drug resistant organisms, and nosocomial bloodstream infections), voluntary reports (surgical site infections, PIC/ICU unit-based surveillance, and device associated infections) and a disinfectant database. Reporting of the compulsory elements is continuous, while the required surveillance period for SSI and PIC/ICU unit-based surveillance is 6 months. Reporting to the NNSR is web-based and anonymous. The Department is also responsible for analysing risk factors of nosocomial infections, and for developing cost-effective infection prevention guidelines as well as infection control indicators.

The Department provides assistance in investigating severe hospital infections and nosocomial outbreaks in order to strengthen patient safety. It participates in drafting new legislations and publishes methodological letters, guidelines concerning nosocomial infections. It takes part in the education of hospital epidemiologists and infection control practitioners.

The Department has participated in several European surveillance programs (EARSS, ESAC, HELICS/IPSE), and it is the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) National Focal Point as well as the Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) National Contact Point  for ECDC.

We hold the following positions:

Dr. Karolina Böröcz
Head of Department
M.D., M.Sc., specialist in public health

Dr. Andrea Kurcz
M.D., specialist in public health, senior expert

Dr. Ágnes Hajdu
M.D., EPIET alumna, specialist trainee in public health

Rita Szabó
Master of science in nursing, bachelor of science in nursing

Andrásné Szőnyi
Public health officer

Orsolya Krisztina Szálas
Secretary, rapporteur of education

Currently we are participating in the following European projects:

PPS: Point Prevalence Survey of Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimicrobial Use in European Acute Care Hospitals (coordinated by ECDC)
Contact point: Dr. Karolina Böröcz

REACT: Response to Emerging Infectious Disease: Assessment and Development of Core Capacities and Tools (coordinated by RKI, Berlin, Germany)
Contact point: Dr. Andrea Kurcz

PROHIBIT: Prevention of Hospital Infections by Intervention and Training (coordinated by the University of Geneva, Switzerland)
Contact point: Dr. Emese Szilágyi (deputy head, Division of Epidemiology, Office of Chief Medical Officer, Hungary)

TRICE: Training in Infection Control in Europe (coordinated by the University of Udine, Italy, and ECDC)
Contact point: Dr. Ágnes Hajdu

HALT: Healthcare Associated Infections in Long Term Care Facilities (coordinated by the University Claude Bernard, Lyon, France, Agenzia Sanitaria e Sociale Regionale, Bologna, Italy, Health Protection Agency, London, UK, Scientific Institute of Public Health, Brussels, Belgium, and ECDC)
Contact point: Rita Szabó

Last update: 18 October 2010